Coupang Inc. Chair Bom Kim and other key executives of Coupang refused to appear at a National Assembly hearing scheduled for next week over a large-scale personal data breach.
According to the industry on the 14th, Kim, former CEO Park Dae-jun, and former CEO Kang Han-seung submitted a written statement explaining his absence to the National Assembly that day. Kim cited "living abroad" as the reason for not appearing.
Earlier, the Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee had selected Kim and others as witnesses for a hearing on Coupang's personal data breach to be held on the 17th. In the past, Kim also declined National Assembly attendance requests for audits of state affairs, citing "staying abroad."
After the main witnesses notified their absence, Chairperson Choi Min-hee of the Science. ICT. Broadcasting. and Communications Committee posted the written statement explaining his absence on her social media the same day and criticized it, saying, "Every one of these reasons is irresponsible. As the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee chairperson, I do not permit it."
Choi said, "These are uniformly irresponsible and unacceptable reasons," adding, "As the Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee chairperson, I 'do not permit' them. Together with the committee members, we will hold them appropriately accountable."
After Park Dae-jun resigned as Coupang CEO to take responsibility for the recent large-scale personal data leak, Coupang appointed Harold Rogers, CAO & General Counsel of Coupang Inc., as acting CEO. Acting CEO Rogers is expected to attend the hearing.